Monthly Archives: April 2013

Elixir in San Francisco has not only been recognised as one of the USA’s top bars, it is also one of it’s oldest. Its rich heritage means this is a place with bundles of character and plenty of charm. The perfect place then for us to celebrate one of the big events of the year: St Patrick’s Day.

Over the St Patrick’s weekend, we sponsored Elixir’s 10th Annual St Patrick’s Party, where our whiskey was poured as the feature product. Patrons enjoyed our Collection straight up and in two bespoke cocktails. We’ve got some fantastic videos from this event to share with you all, but first a little more about this impressive venue.

Recent evidence suggests that Elixir’s building has stood since 1858, meaning its location on the corner of 16th and Guerrero has seen the American nation develop.

From being one of the ‘Wildest of the Wild West’ saloons in the late 1800s to being a vessel for the new European immigrants of the 1900s to pass through. Elixir is found in the Mission Delores district of San Francisco, which itself has undergone many changes. Today it is a trendy area for young professional, a great art scene, but it was originally swallowed up by an expanding San Francisco after the Gold Rush era. It became a place for immigrant communities to live and make their way in America. Amongst these was a large Irish community, many of whom worked on the construction of one of the country’s iconic structures: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

In March 2012 Elixir remembered and celebrated these Men of Action by featuring our Rare Irish Whiskey in their commemorative ‘The Mission’ cocktail. So it was fitting that we collaborated once again on celebrating the Irish heritage of the neighbourhood. Check out our new videos at Elixir which will be released this Thursday (May 2nd).

Wild Geese have flown far from Ireland since 1691. Many settled in new communities and raised families far from Ireland, writing new strands in the Legend of The Wild Geese. No matter how far they traveled their ancestry and dream of freedom for everyone has united them.

Two Wild Geese were prominent figures in the Battle of The Alamo in 1836: Davy Crockett and James Bowie.

James Bowie fought as part of the Texas Militia fighting the Mexican army lead by Santa Ana for the freedom of Texas. He marched into the Alamo in San Antonio de Bexar (modern day San Antonio) in January 1836 with orders to destroy the Mission. However, he soon decided that the Alamo would be very important to securing Texas. He wrote in a letter:

‘the salvation of Texas depends in great measure on keeping Bexar out of the hands of enemy… I have come to the solemn resolution that I would rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy’

Bowie pledged himself to this for the remainder of his days. He lead the Texas Militia troops in the stand against the approaching tyranny during a 13 day siege.

In the final days of the defense of the Alamo, he suffered pneumonia and as the Alamo was eventually stormed by the Mexican army, it is said that he even fought from his death bed, determined to stand against the enemy until his final breath.

Although the Alamo fell to the Mexican army in March 1836, the sacrifices of the brave men at the Alamo spurred on the Texas forces who defeated Santa Ana’s army a month later in April 1836.